on making big picture goals

she's recently requested bows and it makes this mama's heart SO HAPPY!

this was a sick morning and one where she did not sleep great the night before.  so we had cinnamon bread for breakfast and that made her pretty happy!

and this is how miss gigi feels about doctor's visits

cuddles with mommy are the. best!

no mom really, let me where your Uggs

The above pictures are just a highlight real of my IPhone lately ha!  Truth be told, my whole fam is recovering from a yucky cold.  G and I are on the uphill, while dada over here is still working on it.  But hey!  It's been 60 degree weather and well that makes us super happy.  And I'm dead set on enjoying this weekend and nursing my wholeeeeee fam back to 100% health by Saturday morning.  So water, OJ and chicken noodle soup it is!  And lots of washing... everything.  I mean everything.  I think I've washed Georgia's stuffed animals and our sheets 3 times this week already.  GO AWAY COLD!  We're done with ya!  I digress...

So this year when I set out to make goals I was overwhelmed.  I hadn't made a single goal and yet I already felt overwhelmed.  Anyone else relate?  I made some personal goals, picked my one word and while those didn't seem as overwhelming, I knew I had some goals with regards to our home.  We need to live with less.  Our home has overwhelmed me for quite some time now.  Everyone's closets are bursting at the seams, each kitchen cabinet is full (with who knows what!) and everywhere I look all I see is stuff!  And more stuff!  And it's like I don't even know where to begin with organizing.  With that, I decided to take the entire year, work my way through our home and simplify.  By that I mean, purge, purge, purge, de-clutter and organize.  I play the words of William Morris in my head all day it seems, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."  That is my new mantra.  But how was I going to do this?  I have a wild and free toddler running around my house at all times and a new babe cooking in my belly.  Cue the anxiety again.  So I decided to make big goals - month-by-month goals.  Goals that would seem silly to some but make everything more manageable to me.  So in January, you know what I'm focusing on?  The pantry and making sure my Christmas decorations are away and organized.  That's it.  I do a little each weekend on the pantry, throwing away and organizing so we can actually use what we have and not run to the grocery store for black beans when we, in fact, have 3 cans that are just miserably stuffed in the back!  So pantry and Christmas is on the docket for the month.  Next month?  Georgia's closet and the guest bedroom closet (which holds boxes I haven't touched since we moved here 2 years ago! shameful...).  So there's my brilliant plan ladies and gents.  And I encourage you to do the same.  If you have some huge goal you want to attain, or some big picture, make small goals and make them manageable.  Too many times have I added to my To Do List all the while knowing it will be impossible to complete everything on it.  Just stop!  Done is better than perfect friends and you have to start somewhere.  

Speaking of my big picture goal, any of you have tips for organizing and purging a home?  Much appreciated!  xox

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2015 // more jesus please

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i love this quote so much.  they lose nothing (including sleep!) who gain christ.  i want to hang it all over my house.  or maybe just by my alarm clock.

in 2015 i'm saying yes to all of this

I mentioned one of my main goals for this year in a previous post, so I thought I'd talk about another one of my goals - getting up before Georgia. For the past few months, G has been getting up suuuuuuuper early so this is nearly impossible. She's been waking up at 5:45 on occasion yall! But she also sleeps until 7 a few mornings a week.  One of my goals is to set my alarm for 6 am every. single. morning.  Some mornings I may already be up with Georgia and if that's the case, then so be it.  But other mornings she may sleep a little later and by getting up at 6 I can allow myself to wake-up, spend some time with Jesus and prepare for my day.  This is actually a combined goal for both Matt and me.  We both want some "me" time in the morning to get our minds right if you will.  So every morning our alarms go off at 6.  I also want the first thing that enters my mind to be from Jesus - not Instagram or my emails.  He is what is important, and glorifying Him is my purpose here (side note: during 2014 a lot of time was spent in prayer asking, "God what is my purpose?  What do you want me to do while I'm here?"  And well, He has clearly answered me over and over and over - "Know Me, love others and glorify me in whatever way you possibly can."  I could really write a whole post on this... maybe I will!)  And I know I cannot do that without making time with Him a priority.  So that is what I will do.  I go to bed early every night so there is truly no excuse!

What are some of yall's goals for 2015?  I'd love to hear!

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busy week // mind*body*soul chart

how is it already wednesday?  i am still coming off a high from an amazing weekend spent with sweet friends.  and!  the last of my college roommates has said "i do!"  that's a wrap for the Woodrow House.  we are all married up!  

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so between the laundry and cleaning duties that i have somehow drug out over the past 3 days, i am also prepping for another adventure.  this sunday i am headed to making things happen!  while it will be hard for me to leave my sweet baby lady again so soon, i know she is in the best of hands with her daddy.  and i am so excited for this time to focus on some things that i want to make happen - dreams that i have shared with so few.  

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first of all this is also waaaaayyyy out of my comfort zone.  i know not a soul going.  and i'm rooming with an adorable wedding planner that i have never met from canada!  needless to say i'm pretty sure it will be a life-changing and awakening time and i cannot wait to meet, and be inspired by the others there.

so - i apologize for the scarce posts this week.  i am really trying to leave a clean, organized house and leave with a focused, and centered heart.  and each of those takes time.  luckily i have my Mind * Body * Soul Chart to keep me focused day-to-day.  if yall don't know what these are - check them out here and buy yourself one!.  i refer to mine every morning when I wake up, and every evening as I'm getting ready for bed.   andddddd sheila is pretty amazing. 

ok that's enough for today!  happy hump day!  and of course some pictures of my baby girls

a guilty fur-sissy after sneaking away when part of Georgia's egg

playtime is just the best.

sleepy head in the morning light.

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2014 goal setting V IV

Eeeeeeeek!  How is it the last day of January?  Crazy!  This year I have taken the entire month of January to plan and prepare for 2014 - setting goals, and creating action plans to accomplish these goals - all with the help of Lara Casey's Powersheets.  And to be honest, I kinda love it.  I love feeling prepared and having accountability.  I love taking time and prayer to decide on goals for the new year.  I'm thinking this may be a thing for me from now on...

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But ok!  My 5th a final goal for 2014 - and probably the most important one!

Goal 5  //  To make my relationship with Jesus a priority and commit to prayer.

This year I want to seek Him even more.  With more of my heart, more of my mind and more of my time.  You see, I'm pretty selfish with my time - especially since having a baby.  It's like I get a few free seconds and tend to waste them "relaxing" or laying on the couch watching empty TV.  Not anymore.  This year I am committing to taking my extra seconds, minutes and hours - and even that time that is not "extra" - and spending with Him.  Mostly in prayer.  Honestly, I struggle with prayer.  The dicipline of it.  Sure I pray when I wake up, before meals and when I go to bed, but rarely do I carve out time during my day to truly commit to prayer - other than the two second "Lord, Help me!" prayer.  I spend time reading devotionals and listening to praise music, but again, it's the "still" time that I am missing.  So this year, I'm hoping to commit to time and prayer - even when I don't feel like I have anything to say.  

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So there they are!  My five goals!  If you missed the other parts of this series you can find them here:

Part I

Part II

Part III

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meal planning at the lopatka house

So I've shared 4 of my 2014 goals with y'all already and one of those goals is to make healthy eating a priority and a reality for my family on regular basis.  Part of that goal requires meal planning.  Since writing that post, I have gotten a few emails asking what my meal planning looks like and how we do it at my house.  So, I decided to do a post!  It's really quite simple actually.  On the back of my pantry door I painted some panels with chalk board pant a few months back.  I use the top panel for to-do's, grocery lists, encouraging words and currently for the list of foods that Georgia has tried.  The bottom panel we reserve for our weekly menu.  

Every Sunday (or Saturday - depending on the weekend), Matt and I take 10 minutes to plan out our meals for the week.  We try to go through our pantry and try to incorporate any ingredients we already have first.  Then, I write the meals on our pantry door so there is never a question and I won't forget.  Once we make our meal plans, we go through a make a grocery list.  Now, we typically only plan our dinner meals.  Matt usually grabs a smoothie on the way out the door and then eats lunch out or with the pharmacy.  So when we are making our grocery list I tend to consider my breakfast and lunch meals for the week too since I am at home.  Then, viola!  We grocery shop once a week and it's done.  It also makes is easy for me every morning to know what's for dinner that night so I can plan my day accordingly!  

What works at your house?  

xox

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2014 goal setting V III

Can't believe we are on the tail-end of January!  I'm getting pumped as I finish up my Power Sheets and get ready for February.  I shared the first part of my goals here and today, here are a few more to add to the list!

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Goal 3  //  To constantly make my marriage a priority and focus on more "Matt and Denise" quality time

So it's no secret here that babies make life a bit more chaotic.  I constantly ask myself what I used to do with all of my free time before Georgia.  I still don't have an answer to that, but I'm thankful for the chaos.  I love every minute of being a mom.  And the fact that I get to be her mom?  Words can't describe the gratitude I feel.  But with being a mom (and a dad for Matt) comes the simple fact that we have less time for just each other.  We are always together and doing things with and for Georgia, and I can't fully express how close that has made us.  Watching my husband grow and learn as a father is truly amazing.  I am in awe of him every single day.  I always knew he'd be a good dad, but I never knew he'd be this good.  I mean really.  G hit that jackpot :)  But ok I digress... all of this mommy/daddy time leaves less time for Matt and Denise time.  Less time for long sit-down dinners and late night chats.  I'm not saying these don't ever happen anymore, because they do.  They just aren't as frequent.  And I don't think either of us would have it any of way honestly, but this year, with G turning 6 months next week (AH!), I want to be intentional about time alone with my husband.  Time away.  Last weekend we had a date night.  We got dressed up, went to a yummy, quiet restaurant, drank wine and had a 4 course meal.  I had to consistently remind myself not to turn the conversation to Georgia the whollllllle time (it's hard y'all, she's just so cute!), but it was nice.  So nice.  And I want more date nights.  Even if they are at home.  On NYE this year we put G down together and ate a later dinner which was wonderful.  Usually we are eating with her beside us, which is also nice, but I am vowing to eat later a few nights a week.  That takes a little more prep for me when sweet hubby comes home ready to eat our pantry so I have an appetizer out for him to munch on while we play with G, bathe her and then do her bedtime routine.  When she's asleep, we are able to sit down together and not rush.  And I love that feeling.  We are also taking a trip sans little G for our 4 year wedding anniversary in the fall!  So yea.  That's one of my goals this year.  More date nights / date days / date hours.  I just want to always date my husband and want him to always know he is the best.  The best.

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Goal 4  //  To do more nourishing and recharging and less surviving.

I need to take better care of myself.  Plain and simple.  I did a great job of that while I was pregnant.  I ate well, I exercised when needed and I rested.  I spent Sunday nights in a bubble bath and went to bed early.  Since my blue-eyed babe has arrived I have done a horrible job of all of that.  Some of that is to be expected, I mean come on.  As a new mom, especially one that has struggled with breast feeding, my body has been put through the ringer ya know?  And sleep?  Well, that is somewhat of a foreign concept for us (we are hoping it makes it way back into our house in the next few weeks though).  But I am also left in awe by my body.  I mean, I grew a life.  A life y'all.  The most precious life I have ever met.  It makes me sad when I hear women stressing about getting their "post-baby body back" (and I have totally been guilty of this), but really my post-baby body does not exist anymore.  My body is different.  I'm not talking about my wider hips, I'm talking about the soul that I nourished and grew inside of me.  How can I compare my body now to what it was then?  I think that is why I haven't started exercising again yet.  I think I had put a weird kind of pressure on myself to look the same as I did before Georgia.  And it's like I was afraid that it would never be possible so, why strive for it?  And then I realized I had it all wrong.  My body isn't supposed to be the same.  Sure, I would still like some abs in my near future, and I think I'm finally ready to start working for those.  But it's more about nourishing and taking care of myself than anything else - and that involves eating good foods, exercising and resting.  So I will be taking some more "me" time in 2014.  Not neccessarily meaning alone time.  Just making myself a priority as well.  Eating better.  Finding time to do my yoga DVD.  And resting when I need to rest.

So those are two more of my goals for 2014.  Any of yall share either of these?  Tips?  Suggestions?  

Happy Thursday!

PS - my baby had FOOD yesterday!  for the first time ever!  real food.  it felt like christmas, i was so excited.  now here's to hoping her belly is more full and she decides sleep is a good thing :)  

PPS - next week = a lot of georgia posts!  hope that's ok :)

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2014 goal setting V II

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How is it already mid-January??  I hope you have had a wonderful start to 2014!  I know I have.  It has been spent with lots of cuddles, family time and goal-setting.  Like I said before, I've been making my way through Lara Casey's Goal Setting Series with hopes to really put time and prayer into setting these goals.  I hope to be finished and ready to "start" by February 1!  I'm almost done, so looks like that won't be a problem.  Today I'm going to share my first two goals!

via lara casey

Goal 1  //  Clear the physical and mental clutter in my home and in my car.

This is tricky for me.  I am a bit of a hoarder if you will.  I hold on to everything.  Anything with sentimental value, I keep, anything that I might need if I ever go to a 90's rave skating party - I keep.  I mean seriously.  I go to throw something out and my head comes up with (the most unrealistic) excuse to keep it!  It's a problem.  And I fully believe that physical clutter is mental clutter, so for my first goal I am focusing the next 6 months on clearing the clutter.  My One Word this year is Simplify and that is what I want for my home.  I don't want a home filled with "stuff."  I want a home filled with laughter, love and memories and all this "stuff" gets in my way at times.  So I am making my way through closets, cabinets, garages and more and purging.  If I don't have a use for it right now (a GOOD use), then someone else deserves it.  Sheila wrote a post a while back about giving and stated that it's easy to forget, but giving is supposed to hurt.  It's not supposed to be easy.  That is why God calls us to do it.  To use this sometimes hard process to make room for Him to change our heart.  So through the purging, my prayer is that God will change my heart.  Allow me to continue to let go of the "stuff" that doesn't matter at all, and make room for what does.  

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Goal 2  //  Make healthy eating a priority for my family.

This is something that we started this year but something I can always work on.  The main part of this "goal" that I am hoping to make a habit, is the planning process.  Matt and I have decided to plan our meals weekly to ensure that we will always know what we are having for dinner.  Since Georgia has come into our life, if we don't plan our meals weekly then every day around 4 pm I have a panic attack and we end up ordering take-out.  AKA not healthy, and not cheap.  It is also important for me to teach my baby girl that eating healthy is not a chore.  It's not hard and it's not overwhelming.  I want it to be a way of life for her.  I want her to learn to nourish her body every time she eats.  I want her to take pride in food and enjoy it for what it is meant for.  This goal is also an excuse to break out my Pinterest board and get to cracking on some of those yummy recipes.  

So that's a start.  My start.  Those are two of my five goals for 2014.  Any of y'all have similar ones?  Anyone have suggestions for success in mine?

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2014 goal setting V I

2014.  I can't believe it's here!  I love a new year just as much as the rest of em.  A blank slate.  New beginnings.  A fresh start.  It's all so refreshing and filled with so much hope.  Hope can move mountains I tell ya.

This year I'm really taking the time to set goals.  Make priorities.  Evaluate my life, the things in it, the relationships and the "stuff" that fill my day-to-day.  I'm weeding out that stuff that doesn't matter and making more room and more time for the things and the people that do.  I'm working my way through Lara Casey's Goal Setting Series as well as her Power Sheets for 2014.  I'm praying about things I want to change and see in the new year.  I'm getting real with God.  Pouring out my imperfect heart full of yucky stuff that I hate to admit, so that He can wipe it clean and really use it.  Use me.  

I am no where near finished with the goal setting stuff (I'm only on part 2!) but I will leave you with my progress so far.  It's somewhat of an overview, and as the weeks go on in January I am going to walk you (and me) through my individual goals.  If nothing else, I hope to gain some accountability and encourage you in some way!

purchase this print HERE

First and foremost in 2014, I need more Jesus. And if that is all I accomplish in the next 365 days, than it will have been a successful year that's for sure.  I have picked my word for 2014 and it is SIMPLIFY.  That word has been laid on my heart for so many reasons.  This year I hope to work through my life and simplify every aspect of it.  Ultimately, I don't need a bunch of "stuff" or a bunch of "to do's."  I need a simple life with the ones I love most, impacting others in whatever way I can.  So all of my goals in some way are an effort to simplify.

best friend and my baby

I've also started my 2014 Inspiration Board on Pinterest.  You can follow it HERE!  Do y'all have one?  Leave the link in a comment - I would LOVE to follow you!

Have any of y'all chosen a word?  Made any goals?

PS - Is it bad I only made it 'til 11pm on NYE?  I tried, I really did.  And does it count that I was up at 3 am with my babe?  I mean that counts as ringing in the New Year right?!  Oh how things have changed... :)

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